Movably interfitted ironing board and support therefor



y 1950 A. P. LANTZ 2,514,708

MOVABLY INTERFITTED IRONING BOARD AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Aug. 28, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l F 6 4 Fl 6.

3 5 3 o o b \NvENTOR ALPHA PERRY LANTZ ATTORNEYS July 11, 1950 Filed Aug. 28, 1947 A. P. LANTZ 2,514,708

MOVABLY INTERFITTED IRONING BOARD AND SUPPORT THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7.

Fl G. 9.

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6 INvENTQR ALPHA PERRY LANTZ 72 I I Z 77 W I? 5 K L.1 7 HA ATTORNEYS Patented July 11, 1950 MOVABLY INTERFITTED- IRONING BOARD AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Alpha Perry Lantz, Washington, D. C. v

Application August 28, 1947, Serial No. 771,096

9 Claims.

Another object cfthe invention is to further simplify the construction and arrangement of the ironing board and its supporting means, by so relating them for swinging movement that a substantially uniform, depth or thickness of the board may be. had throughout the length. thereof, avoiding projecting portions above-and-below the planes of the upper and lower surfaces of the board, for example, as constituted by the commonly employed legs, props or braces carried by the extended or ironing portion of'the board outwardly beyond the cabinet, that not only constitute obstructions below the ironing area of the board but, when attached to the board, necessitate the provision of storage space for the said legs, props or braces, securing devices therefor, etc.

A preferredsembodiment of the invention comprises the making'ofthe ironing board of wood, pulp, plastic or'materiai of" inexpensive character, at times unsuited to withstand the chipping or cracking if alone'used in bearings, or' stops, provided with an armor'f'acing; for the bearing engaging portions of the boardwhich, while not substantially increasing'the normal thickness of the board, will absorb the contacting shocks and strains incident to throwing the board from closed to. open position, or viceversa, and thus prevent the, wood or thelike; body from chipping or cracking. by presenting a. hard, durablev contact facing.

A second embodiment of. the invention embraces a structure wherein the board is formed entirely throu hout of sheet, metal. having a downwardly directed flange turned. about. a strong wire or rod. to add rigidity to, the board and prevent any. tendency of the same tobeunduly depressed under ironing forces, the specific construction of the board in this embodiment being the widening of the. entire inner portion of the board so that. the edges thereof constitute the lateral extensions to enter and cooperate with the openings in the bearing plate on the cabinet wall, as d stinguished from providing the eouivalent elongated lateral extensions of the first described embodiment, where the extreme inner end of the boardis relatively of less width and projects backward in the cabinet beyond the said lateral extensions.

The foregoing. embodiments of the invention, also possess the common novel characteristic of the bearing member in the cabinet wall or the like adapted to cooperate with the bearing engaging member of the board, whether of the armored wood or other formation, comprising a plate tobe secured to said wall in fixed. posi-. tion, with respect to the latter, having its central portion formed with oppositely arranged sector-shape openings communicating with each other at their inner converging ends and providing arc-shaped outer bearing surfaces.

Also the characteristic of a complemental lateral extension on the side edge of the board of substantially the same thickness thereof, to interfit with the openings in the plate, with the opposite ends of. the extension, disposed to ride inv said openings over the arc-shaped surfaces of the latter for the purpose of preventing longi tudinal displacement of: the board; and spaced parallel vertical and horizontal abutmentslocated. to opposite sides of the axis of the swing of the board so as: to engage the upper and lower faces of the latter and limit the swing of the board upwardly or downwardly.

Still other features of novelty will be developed in a discussion of the respective disclosures, all of which will be readily understood from the" detail description hereinafter contained when read in connection with the drawings forming part hereof.

In the drawings, and first with respect to the embodiment of the-invention initially referred to Figure 1 is. a vertical sectional view of a. portion of acabinet' in which the ironing boardi mounted;

Figure 2' is a transverse section of Figure I on the line X.X of thezlatter;

Figure 3 is a topv view of the ironing board of Figure 2;

Figure 4'. is an end? view looking in the direction of the arrow of' Figure 1'; and

Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line Y'Y of Figure 1 looking in the same direction.

Figure 6' is a side view of the plate of Figure 1, certain details being eliminated.

Figure '7 is a viewof' the same character as Figure 1, showing the second embodiment of the in. vention;

Figure 8 is a vertical section on the line Z'Z'0i Figure '7 looking in" the direction of the arrow;

Figure 9' is a top plan view of the inner end of the ironing board of Figure 7"; and

Figure 10 is a bottom view'of' the same.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary section of a cabinet provided with a somewhat different shaped open: bearing portion receiving and constituting abutments for engagingthe lateral extensions. of and limiting the movements ofthe board; and

. in its various positions.

Figure 12 is a vertical section of Figure 11 on the line A-A thereof, viewed in thedirection of the arrow.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and first with reference to that embodiment illustrated in the first six figures thereof, l represents the back wall, and Hi the side or end walls of a cabinet, here but fragmentarily shown.

On each end wall of the cabinet and disposed 1 on the inner face thereof, there is a sheet metal plate ll secured by screws l8, this plate having oppositely disposed sector-shaped openings l9 and 2!! therethrough registering with corresponding. openings in the sidewalls IS, the plate I? having a continuous outwardly turned flange 2i closely fitted to the opening, represented at 22, in the wall l6.

The openings 19 and ZIlthrough the plate H are curved, as an arc-shape, as shown at 23 (in the instance of the opening 19) and 24 (in the instance of the opening and the flange 2i is correspondingly contoured to provide bearing surfaces, as will later appear.

bearing parts in the plate I1, and preserve the wood from chipping or cracking.

The inner end of the board, that is, the end that remains in the cabinet when the ironing portion of the board is extended beyond the cabinet, is of the form illustrated in plane in Figure 3, it being understood that the integral board ex- 7 'tends into, and is of the same shape, as the armor iliary stops 3i and 32 of the form of Figure l is dispensed with in Figure 6.

Now, with reference to that embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 to 10, inclusive, it is seen that in lieu'of being formed of wood, as suggested in Figure 1, the board in this instance,

The inner or relatively smaller end portions of the sector-shape openings I9 and 20 open to each other to afford communication between 1 the openings l9 and 20 at what I will term the axis (Figure 6),,of swinging movement of i the ironing. board 26. The arrangement of the openings land 20,. with respect to each other, and the continuous outwardly turned flange 2| thereof, is such that the portions of the flanges constituting the ends of the openings l9 and 20, serve as stops orabutments for the board The stops or abutments are in pairs at right angles to each other and are, in one pair, horizontally disposed as shown at 2'! and 2B (Figure 1) in: planes spaced apart the thickness or depth of the board 26; and in the other pair arranged vertically in planes and spaced the same way, the' stops or abutments being there illustrated at 2 9 and 30. This ar 'rangement permits the board to occupy a hori Zontal or ironing position, (full lines Figure 1) or a closed vertical position (dotted lines same figure). p The plate I! is also provided with pressed or struck-out auxiliary stops 3| and 32 serving in connection with the bearings or abutments,

constituted by the shaping of the flange 2|, bordering the openings l9 and 20, to afford abundant support for the ironing board under severe or abnormal pressure or forces on the ironing portion of the board when extended from the cabinet.

The board 26 of Figure 1 may be of any suitable material, for example, relatively soft or cheap wood, or other substanca if deemed expedient, but it being the object of the invention to have the same capable of supporting itself when interengaged with the open portions l9-20 of the plate I! and be also capable of resisting fracture, cracking or the like when engaging the bearing portions thereof, the board, in this instance, is provided with an armor of sheet metal. This armor comprises a bottom plate 33 adapted to extend transversely across the under face of the board 26, where the latter projects into the cabinet, and upwardly around the side edges of the board at 34 and over onto the upper surface of the board, as at 35, the plate and board being permanently secured together in fixed relationship by rivets or the like 36. This metal protection for thewood will absorb the shocks incident to the abutment of the board with the is formed entirelyof sheet metal, but the general combination and arrangement remains about the same asthat already described.

Here the back wall of the cabinet is represented at 39-, the end wall thereof at 40 and the plate on the inner face of the end wall at M, secured thereto at 42, as before. The bearing plate 4! has the outwardly turned flange 43 fitting the corresponding opening 44 in the end wall 40 of the cabinet, said flange 43 and opening 44 in the cabinet being constituted, as in the preceding embodiment, by the sector-shape portions 45 and 46 of the plate providing the pairs of stops or abutments 41 and 48 (of the horizontal arrangement) andthe similar stops (of vertical arrangement) 49 and 50. As before, the open portions 45 and 46 meet at their smaller ends to communicate in permitting the swinging of the board up-and-down about an axial portion 5|. The board, represented in this instance at 52, is formed entirely of sheet metal with a substantiallyfiat upper surface throughout, save for an ironing implement seat 53, formed by an appropriately depressed portion of the material of the board near the inner end thereof.

The surrounding edge of the board throughout has a depending flange 54 folded tightly about a wire or rod marginal reinforce 55 to stifien and reinforce the board during the function of ironing thereon. It is thus seen that the board again is of substantially uniform depth or thickness throughout, the same as in the instance of the embodiment of the first series of figures, and is without hooks, projecti g parts, etc., above-andbelow the board.

The shape of the inner end or head of the boardthat is the portion that in its movement remains in the cabinet -is substantially broadened relative to the normal width 51 of the ironing portion of the board. a This broadened portion or headof the board is indicated at 58 and theextended side edges of the head, shown at 59 enables the broad itself to constitute the oblong bearing engaging portions equivalent to the bearing engaging portions 31 of the first embodiment, it being understood that the edge port ons 59 extend into the open portions 45 and 46 of theplate 4! (Figure 7-) into position to have the edge 60 of the head 58, ride upon the curved or arc surface 6! of the open portion 45, and the nd surface 52 of the head to ride over the cor- "5. A combination including'supporting plates adapted to be secured to the end walls of a cabinet and an ironing board having laterally extending integral extensions elongated lengthwise of the board, each plate having upper and lower communicating openings therein of general sector shape bound by. straight and curved walls, the curved wall of each opening being arcuate shaped and forming part of a bearing, the straight walls of each opening providing abutments for limiting the swinging movement of the ironing board, said arcuate shaped bearing walls of each plate being diametrically spaced substantially the length of one of the extensions f the ironing board with which they engage, the interengagement of the extensions with the arcuate shaped bearing walls forming the pivot for the ironing board and maintaining the same against longitudinal displacement, said ironing board extensions being adapted to engage the abutments afforded by the straight walls when the ironing board is swung outwardly to ironing position or upwardl to inoperative position, each of Said supporting plates including an auxiliary abutment adjacent its forward edge adapted to be engaged by the ironing board, comprising a projec- 1 tion extending inwardly of the plate.

6; A combination including supporting plates adapted to be secured to the end walls of a cabinet and an ironing board having laterally extending integral extensions elongated lengthwise of the board, each plate having upper and lower open- 1 ings therein of general sector shape, each opening being bound by two wall perpendicular to each other and an arcu-ate shaped bearing wall connecting the perpendicular walls, the perpenlatter constituting abutments for the extensions 1 when the ironing board is swung outwardly to ironing position or upwardly to inoperative position.

'7. A combination including supporting plates adapted to be secured to the end walls of a cabinet and an ironing board having laterally extending integral extensions elongated lengthwise of the board, each plate having upper and lower openings therein'of general sector shape, each opening being bound by two walls perpendicular to each other and an arcuate shaped bearing wall connecting the perpendicular walls, the perpendicular walls of one opening being so connected to the perpendicular walls of the other opening as to allow communication between the upper and lower openings to provide a space for the accommodation of one of the laterally extending integral extensions of the ironing board, said laterally extending integral extensions engaging the armate shaped bearing walls, forming a pivot means for the ironing board, said extensions also adapted to engage the perpendicular walls, the latter constituting abutments for the extensions when the ironing board is swung outwardly to ironing position or upwardly to inoperative position, the ironing board and extensions being of substantially the same depth or thickness throughout and the extensions of the ironing board having,

reinforcing means consisting of a sheet metal protective facing adapted to contact said abutments.

8. A combination including supporting plates, adapted to be secured to the end walls of a cabinet and an ironing board having laterally extending integral extensions at the end of the board and elongated lengthwise of the board, each plate having upper and lower communicating opening therein of general sector shape bound by straight.

and curved walls, the curved wall of each opening being arcuate shaped and forming part of a bearing, the straight walls of each opening providing abutments for limiting the swinging. move-.

ment of the ironing board, said arcuate shaped bearing walls of each plate being diametrically spaced substantially the length 0, one of the extensions of the ironing board with which they engage, the interengagement of the extensions.

with the arcuate shaped bearing walls forming the pivot for the ironing board and maintaining the same against longitudinal displacement, said ironing board extensions being adapted to engage the abutments afforded by the straight walls when the ironing board is swung outwardly to ironing position or upwardly to inoperative position, said ironing board and extensions being formed of sheet metal and having reinforcing means in the form of beaded marginal portions.

9. A combination including supporting platesadapted to be secured to the end walls of a cabinet and an ironing board having laterally extending integral extensions elongated lengthwise of the ironing board, each plate having upper and lower communicating opening therein of general sector shape bound by straight and curved walls, the walls extending outwardly from the plate through cut-out portions in the side walls of the cabinet, the curved wall of each opening being arcuate shaped'and forming part of a bearing, the straight walls of each opening providing abutments for limiting the swinging movement of the;

ironing board, said arcuate shaped bearing walls of each plate being diametrically spaced substantially the length of one of the extensions of the I ironing board with which they engage, the inter engagement of the extensions With the arcuate shaped bearing walls forming the pivot for the ironing board and maintaining the same against longitudinal displacement, said ironing bo rd extensions being adapted to engage the abutments afiorded by the straight walls when the ironing board is swung outwardly to ironing position or upwardly to inoperative position.

ALPHA PERRY LANTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED- STATES PATENTS Gedris Mar. 2, 1943 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,514,708 July 11, 1950 ALPHA PERRY LANTZ It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

In the grant, line 13, for Alpha Perry Lantz, his heirs read Alpha Perry Lantz, her heirs;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice. Signed and sealed this 3rd day of October, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

